The Rant: Fred Taylor, take a bow for your play on, off the field

Fred Taylor is headed for retirement and the first thing that came to mind wasn't whether he's a Hall of Famer, or that he missed the prime part of his years in the NFL with an assortment of injuries. Not even close.

I was working on a story about Taylor's younger brother, then a player for Glades Central back in 1999, and Fred was more than willing to open up about him. We sat down in the Jaguars locker room and Taylor talked and did so candidly. When another reporter tried to interrupt, Taylor politely asked him to wait until he finished his story, which went on and on. Another story followed. And then another. Taylor, for all of the knocks on his durability and questions about his toughness, was one of the classiest and genuine athletes that I've ever dealt with.

Take a bow, Fred. Your work on the field and genuine demeanor off of it is something that we don't see enough of anymore.